First wireless TV Remote (Zenith)

[electronicskip]

Today i watched the film Suburbicon (Matt Damon) and in a couple of Scenes there is footage of a Zenith TV remote control used called a Zenith Flashmatic which is basically a torch with a very narrow beam able to change channels/sound/off on by aiming it at the four corners of the tv to activate various functions.

Ive never seen anything like this before not really being into Tvs but was wondering if anyone had had experience of this type of remote?.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith_Flash-matic

[Welsh Anorak]

Never seen one but there was a similar idea over here around 1960 - others will give you chapter and verse on this one.

Going back to remote controls in American films, 'Pleasantville' is worth a look...

[electronicskip]

Originally Posted by Welsh Anorak

Never seen one but there was a similar idea over here around 1960 - others will give you chapter and verse on this one.

Going back to remote controls in American films, 'Pleasantville' is worth a look...

Yes thats interesting .
I also found this clip on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87KZ5r9-nsA

[G6Tanuki]

There were similar 1950s 'non-wired' remotes that used a tuning-fork arrangement, where each button 'pinged' a different frequency of tuning-fork in the remote, and the telly had audio frequency tuned-circuits behind a microphone-and-AF-amp to detect which button had been pinged.

From memory, it was Philco who used this approach.

[Panrock]

Do you know what sort of audio frequencies were used? Probably not high or ultrasonic, otherwise jangle your keys and all hell could break loose!

Steve

[peterpixel]

I cannot remember the make now but I recall customers budgies causing problems with random changing of settings in the 60's. Peter.

[G6Tanuki]

Can't remember the details, but the name "selectorflash" comes to mind, and Philco had their "Mystery Control" thing back in the pre-WWII days...

https://www.philcorepairbench.com/ph...stery-control/

[ms660]

I remember servicing Murphy TV's that had a pinger.

Lawrence.

[usradcoll1]

Originally Posted by electronicskip

Today i watched the film Suburbicon (Matt Damon) and in a couple of Scenes there is footage of a Zenith TV remote control used called a Zenith Flashmatic which is basically a torch with a very narrow beam able to change channels/sound/off on by aiming it at the four corners of the tv to activate various functions.

Ive never seen anything like this before not really being into Tvs but was wondering if anyone had had experience of this type of remote?.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith_Flash-matic

By being into TV's early on, I only saw one and the remote gun was missing!
There's a lot of information on that remote at the ETF website. Early Television Foundation!
Dave, USradcoll1

[Vintage Engr]

I remember working on the Philco 'Selectaflash' (BRC chassis)
which used a torch for channel selection. This operated a motor, which then drove the turret tuner.
As has also been mentioned, several manufacturers also produced early remote control TV's with ultrasonic transducers.

These were a pain, as something as simple as jingling a bunch of keys could drive the tuner motor beserk!

Great fun, a long time ago.

David.

[FERNSEH]

"These were a pain, as something as simple as jingling a bunch of keys could drive the tuner motor beserk!
Great fun, a long time ago."

Including certain mid-seventies Philips G8 models with remote channel change. Although in those receivers channel changing was purely electronic.

DFWB.

[electronicskip]

I found another Youtube clip of a Zenith Flashmatic TV in operation.
You can actually see the torchbeam reflected on the tv and even see one of the buttons rotating (im assuming its volume) on the top right hand corner.
The TV is from 1955 , its only a short clip but its fascinating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJCwNO1bF9o

[Welsh Anorak]

Over here the remote control was seen as a troublesome novelty in the early Sixties and was soon dropped for all but top-end receivers such as the Dynatrons which used a cumbersome wired arrangement.

Then in the mid Seventies we had the ultrasonic system with either an electronic transducer (Thorn, Bush) or the hammer and gong Philips arrangement. Of course the European TVs were way ahead with the likes of Saba having many rotary controls that rotated as you pressed the appropriate buttons - very elegant.

Then it became ubiquitous in the Eighties and most people can't remember the days of crossing the room to change channel or adjust the volume.

I think the last large-screen colour TV NOT to feature remote control was the Philips CP90 NRC which was specifically developed for the rental market and also sold to a few stubborn customers.

[Ambientnoise]

Wasn’t it teletext which signalled the end for non-remote control tv’s ?

[vinrads]

Not a t/v remote but an early Philco radio remote it sends out a series of pulses ,just one valve in the sender. Mick.

[FERNSEH]

Wasn't the first Zenith remote control system called "Lazy Bones"?
Attachment shows the Zenith "Flashmatic" remote control handset.

DFWB.

[FERNSEH]

The Admiral Son-R remote control.

DFWB.

[emeritus]

In the early 1970's, a friend built an extension lead with three 13A sockets that were switched by a three-channel ultrasonic remote control, for a bedridden relative so he could turn on and off his radio, TV and standard lamp from his bed. After the relative died, he used it himself. It wasn't just jangling keys that made things come on and off at random, the noise of a spoon on a nearly empty cereal bowl was just as effective. He said it was very disconcerting for guests when things suddenly turned themselves on!.